Christmas day in Point a Pitre

It's quiet, very quiet in the marina and chilled on Jackster. There are no presents to open, we have presents all year, or traditions to follow, but Santa has left a couple of folding bikes on the deck for us. We say this every year since we bought them in 2009! Like every child with a new bike on Christmas Day you have to go out on them.

We cycled a couple of miles to the centre of Point a Pitre. David was keen to see the cruise ship terminal which he visited on a ship in his previous life. With no ship on the dock it was underwhelming, set in the less salubrious dock area with derelict buildings all around. However, as it is Christmas Day the streets were empty. Hardly a car to dodge.

From what we saw we weren't impressed with the largest town on the island; lots of 60's and 70's blocks of flats in need of painting, rubbish on the narrow streets, just a feeling of a rundown impoverished town. A big contrast to affluent and upscale buildings on the rest of the islands and postcard pretty Saintes.

opposite the cruise terminal

After seeing the big town we went back towards the marina and then onto a sandy peninsula opposite where Jackster is moored for a complete contrast. The hotels and beaches were buzzing. There might be new wreck to see too.

downtown anchorage

On Christmas Eve afternoon we saw a massive plume of black smoke on the other side of the peninsula. At one point the fuel tank exploded. Interestingly the first rescue vessel we saw, a tug boat with water cannon, turned up 30 minutes later closely followed by a coast guard launch. After we had been to see the bow of the burned sail boat poking out of the water we learned that the marina's dock master had arrived immediately the alarm was raised to take off the captain and his dog so no lives lost.